Wonder where our English supporter friends are that said touring teams never, win they lose motivation etc. Win lose or draw the only thing that will be said of this series is the better team won.

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 14, 2014, 1:23PM

One of my Pet hates after Warnie retired was the continuous turnover of spin bowlers. A few in my view deserved more time. When Lyon got selected I just wondered how short his Test career would be. He has become the quiet achiever, does the role required picks up wickets at times key ones. I think us Aussies don't give him enough respect. He is a key to this bowling lineups success

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 14, 2014, 1:04PM

Do they have sheep in the Centurion district? There's a lot of green grass going begging, for lack of spectators at this test. So maybe also open the gates to livestock? They'd probably also be more enlivened by the action than the humans watching, too.

Commenter

JH

Location

Briz

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 11:15PM

Mitchell Johnson is the greatest fast bowler I have seen in my entire life. Yes - even better than Lillee.

Commenter

Roy Slaven

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 11:15PM

The choke is on AB. He started at over a run a ball but has been pegged back to 20 from the last 60 balls. The aussies did this time and again to the poms.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 10:59PM

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes !!!!!

what is not to love about this Australian team

Commenter

thewillo

Location

wishiwasthere

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 9:25PM

I am sorry Mitchell Johnson. I have thought badly of you since 2009. An amazing talent but now with a heart,,,awesome. I dared to dream with the recent Ashes biut now i think you are the greatest tale of redemption since Darth Vadar. Wow. No seriously. wow, Thank you. Please keep it up.

Commenter

Elric

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 9:18PM

umpire Aleem Dar needs to go, this neutral umpire ideology is not required with DRS, he is so consistent at making bad calls, year in year out.

Good old Siddle, he is mainly 135km/h but line and length, but no respite from the 2 quicks, that is why it is a balanced attack with good fielding. SA will really miss Kallis when the pressure is on, he was sensational under pressure and dug that team out time and time again.

Smith's mental demons may come back after the first innings failure.

Commenter

objective one

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 9:01PM

Dar has been a joke for a long time. Dharmesena is worse. This rubbish of neutral umpires has to go where both teams agree.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 10:53PM

Arguably the two best batsmen in the world at the crease. Knock these two over and Aus firmly in control of the test

Commenter

Llama Farma

Location

Canberra

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:46PM

jeez Du Plessis looked like Don Draper with that wistful mile/grimace as he trudged off.

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:38PM

So there you go, it wasn't all because the poms were rubbish, a bit of it was Johnson being pretty handy with the ball. 3 for in the first innings to put Aust on top. Go Mitch!

Commenter

Llama Farma

Location

Canberra

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:36PM

True Australia are just a very good team with maybe the best bowling line up in the world. To have the Saffas 4/52 on a ground they have not lost on enough said

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 9:03PM

Sure it is early days but it does suggest that Australia may be in the running for this series which is at least a glass of cold water in the face to the bashers during the Ashes series who said they would be total rubbish, the majority of which were English.

Commenter

MarkFawkner

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:36PM

Wow - pleasantly ominous signs with Johnson snaring the first two.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:22PM

Make that 3. Wish I could watch it live

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:40PM

Where's Bonzo when we need him. lol

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:19PM

bowled, Thommo!

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:07PM

Come on Johnston show all the haters you're back and will be number 1 bowler again

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:05PM

Finally we bowl. Looking forward to see how our boys go against the number 1 batting team. Are we as good as we think?

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:46PM

Intrigued by ABC radio commentary.South African commentators saying the absence of Jacques Kallis and the heat have affected the performance of South Africa!Good luck to our boys and such a great performance by Smith and Marsh. Sadly a very small crowd although it seems the crowds will arrive on Saturday.Love the green grass and would love some for our sheep.Sorry to see Brad go for a duck but he has done a wonderful job this year.

Commenter

Robyn

Location

rural NSW

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:09PM

Morkel is bowling well after his nice little rest off the field, I hope the showers were hot but I’m glad the cricketing gods are ensuring that his team gets no benefit.

Commenter

RTP

Location

Sawtell

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:28PM

Morkel better not be allowed to bowl until the required overs are up for his time off the field, if he does this goes against all the ethos of fair cricket. South Africa’s national fear of losing knows no bounds and they will do anything within or to bend the rules to prevent a loss. Winning always comes second to the South Africans it is the national fear of being seen as losers that has always directed South African cricket.

Commenter

RTP

Location

Sawtell

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:01PM

Bit deep for me.I just thought he would bowl again as directed by the match referee.But i've never been big on conspiracy theories.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:18PM

Hey us Aussies push the rules at times

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:19PM

Cringeworthy. We have taken sledging to a whole new level and complain about others going against the ethos of fair cricket. This era of cricket will be about keeping our head down in conversation about fairness.

Commenter

Andy

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:08PM

Good to see Morkel is back. Anyone out there starting to believe we can win thus Test?

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:58PM

No

Commenter

curaeus

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:41PM

I think we are a chance. They are 3/37. Going to take a big fight back from here

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 8:51PM

The double-century partnership broken on Smith's ball 213.

Is that the first time in 15 years that the number 213 has worked for the Boks ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:43PM

ohmigod that Haddin. threw his dig away. and wasted a review. is the new Watson. drop him etc etc

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:42PM

Yep drop him bring back Rod Marsh

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:46PM

Finally, there is somebody else who supports watto.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:47PM

Brian Taber is probably still in South Africa

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:03PM

With Haddin gone will we make 400?

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:40PM

Plenty of batting left.I'm going 500 and they'll be 3/100 by stumps.I look forward to Sidds and Harris attacking the stumps on this deck.Lots of LB appeals.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:50PM

Shame for Smith however great 100 he has done his job

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:37PM

Lets hope shows the other batters the way and gets a double hundred - most batters seem happy just getting a century nowadaysgo aussie

Commenter

Rod

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:33PM

Marsh is who im talking about.

Commenter

Rod

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:47PM

If Morkel misses the next Test it will put to Test the view Australia has a stronger bowling line up due to depth

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:32PM

Morkel is back and coming on to play? Probably part of the info ops campaign of the saffas.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:48PM

Well done Steven Smith what a summer he is having. Thats 4 tons in six tests

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:28PM

What is with cricket in SA.I can't imagine why the joint wouldn't be packed out.They have a great team,playing against the arch enemy and there is nobody there.Coming from Melbourne it's so hard to relate to.I think I need to be on the next tour,it's like watching the best teams in the world at the local park.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Murphy

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:25PM

Agree. At home the number 1 team against the number 3 wannabes. Should be a sell out. Maybe they need to let people in free for awhile.

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:54PM

Anyone got any theories why the crowd so not crowdy ? Was the recent series against India also poorly attended ? (At least there's no Barmy Army )

Commenter

Danjiel

Location

rural NSW

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:10PM

Agree on the absence of the Army,no great loss.I think in SA they have this ridiculous notion that Rugby rules.I think even up north in NSW and QLD they'd struggle to relate to that.I just can't fathom it.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:25PM

They should hold the next test at St Ives showground - they would probably get a bigger crowd - plenty of ex-pat saffies up that way.

Commenter

Rangga

Location

Annandale NSW

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:34PM

Woo hoo, Peterson's on already!

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:21PM

Woo hoo ?

Commenter

Matt

Location

Murphy

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:26PM

Jinxed the aussies again.

Peterson is the best spinner in the world! There, that should do it.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:39PM

Sad about Morkel for if we are to win this Test or the series it would be nice to do it against a fully fit Saffas team

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:20PM

Saffas getting desperate to waste a DRS

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:13PM

Philanders bowling average is 7 or 8 lower than it should be and that's being kind. A good bowler at best on docile pitches, great on pitches that are lively, nowhere near the class of McGrath.

Commenter

Chuck

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:13PM

nah. he is a jet. bowled too short yesterday but nipped them around furiously. of course he is nowhere near McGrath, which is like me saying I am not quite as handsome as Brad Pitt. he will average in the 20s and good on him. imagine how good our team would be if we had him instead of Siddle - he is faster, more accurate, and wobbles it off a wicket taking length.

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:35PM

You are on the money Chuck. Pigeon averaged 21ish after 120 tests. Let's see what Philanders is after 50. My guess is nothing south of 25.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:35PM

Credit where it's due.He bowls in the right areas all the time and moves the ball.He'll end up one of the games greats.Like McGrath.KISS.Keep it simple,stupid.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:55PM

Morkel is injured and is off for scans. May not play again in this test. SA down to 4 bowlers (sort of) if you can call Peterson a bowler.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:12PM

Why the black armbands wear the fox hat?

Commenter

NFI

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:25PM

My understanding is that its for the little boy killed by his dad yesterday. He played cricket for the local team (see cricinfo)

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:45PM

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Best. Name. Ever.

Commenter

Llama Farma

Location

Canberra

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:48PM

If you're talking about my moniker; I'd love to take credit but do a search for miller beer, wear the fox hat and get a great, great laugh.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 6:13PM

I think we are seeing how much they miss Kallis

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:00PM

Haddin will find it a pleasant change to come in without having to save an innings but build on it. Lets be greedy and hope Marsh scores 150 along with Smith

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 4:53PM

Let's hope Haddin has the same focus with the score at 5/400 and gets us to 550-600 by tea. South Africa 2 down by COP and they will find it hard to save this.

Commenter

Chuck

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:10PM

jeez 600 by tea your fingers are on steroids!

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:13PM

At 4.5 runs an over it's possible with Haddin and Johnson.

Commenter

Chuck

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:16PM

Looks like Haddin is the man for a famine, not a feast

Commenter

Rob

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:40PM

well they would settle for 450 i reckon now. which is probably a pertty good results-oriented score

Commenter

Peter Warrington

Location

marrickville

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:41PM

Well that settles than then. Haddin was filling the void left by Watson I guess.

Commenter

Chuck

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:49PM

Two guys that I have bagged out (Marsh and Smith) have both shown the goods inthis test, Smith for some time now.

I also constantly pan Hughes. Maybe he should get a guernsey in the next test, score a century and then I'll have the trifecta.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 4:51PM

If only the other Marsh critics had the decency to admit they were wrong

Commenter

Lightbulb

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 9:03PM

Lightbulb. I happily admit I was wrong about Marsh. That said it is now up to him to continue to perform and cement his place. I will always believe however North should be on the tour why? 1 current form 98 average shield level. 2 He is an experienced Test player with 5 Test centuries to his name in 21 Tests. North could have toured as an option to open, bat at 3 or bat in the middle order as in his previous Tests. Logic suggests in form players should be selected. It says alot for the Selectors and Boof they have ignored Marshs poor Shield season having seen beyond that. Those of us who love our cricket will always express our views and always be happy to be proven wrong. I truly hopes if Hughes gets a 4th call up he cements a spot and becomes the Test player long tipped since he was 19

Commenter

Armchair Selector

Date and time

February 14, 2014, 1:17PM

Are the crowd still queuing to get in?

Commenter

Mike

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 4:32PM

There's so much vacant grass that our drought stricken farmers should be looking at agistment.

Commenter

RTP

Location

Sawtell

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:05PM

And this is why the big three are taking over cricket - when the current no.1 test team can't draw decent crowds, the door is open wide for the countries that do draw crowds to dictate terms.

Commenter

wear the fox hat

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 5:17PM

Why are they so bad? Ticket prices too high? Centurion out in the boonies? Granted its a work day, but test cricket isn't an unenjoyable experience.

Commenter

Simon

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 13, 2014, 7:00PM

It is a poor crowd agreed, but it is a week day as well. Wait for the weekend. they have had very good rain this summer, with flooding just last week.